Pandemics/Public Health

President’s Corner

The Telework Coalition (TelCoa), America’s leading nonprofit telework education and advocacy organization, based in Washington DC, was established in 2002 by a group of professionals with experience in addressing the benefits, adoption, and implementation of telework and telecommuting programs. This was in response to a growing need for a single, reliable source of reference material about technology’s impact on our economy, environment, energy usage, and our society in general. TelCoa focuses on how this technology is changing our lifestyles, organizational structures and workplace management, along with the policies, processes and procedures that support them.

>>> Read More...

Guest Columnist

Telecommuting Catches On at the Council of Better Business Bureaus

Matthew Scandale

The Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) is a national nonprofit headquartered in the Washington, DC area. They generate $20 million a year with 114 employees, leading a network of 115 independent BBB's generating $165 million in revenue with 2,300 employees. So they probably land in the middle of mid-sized organizations. We work hard to make the world a better place, helping consumers to avoid getting ripped off. We were a random collection of about 100 white-collar workers bustling about the halls and cubicles of a random high-rise in DC. Or at least that's the way it was until this year.

>>> Read More...

Key Elements of Departmental Pandemic Influenza Operational Plans

August 2008
The National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan requires Federal departments and agencies to develop plans addressing (1) protection of employees, (2) maintenance of essential functions and services, (3) support for the Federal response, and (4) communication with stakeholders about pandemic planning and response. The Federal departments, agencies, and independent organizations are hereinafter referred to as “agencies.” In November 2006, Homeland Security Council (HSC) staff requested that department and agency heads certify in writing to the HSC that their respective department or agency was addressing the applicable elements of pandemic planning set forth in a checklist developed and published at www.flu.gov. That checklist provided a mechanism to assist agencies in developing their pandemic plans and ensured uniform preparedness across the U.S. Government.

To read the entire plan, click here.

Planning for pandemic influenza is critical.

Planning for pandemic influenza is critical. To assist you in your efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed the following checklist for large businesses. It identifies important, specific activities large businesses can do now to prepare, many of which will also help you in other emergencies.

Click here to see the CDC checklist for large businesses.

For CDC information on the Avian Flu, click here.

For information on Flu Pandemics, click here.